Service C180

[Tafia]

Hi,

My 2012 C180 petrol is due for service and I am wondering where to go for the best. I am wary pf putting it in the hands of a main dealer due to bad experiences with them in the past ( Honda, Volvo etc) They have all tried to do work which to my mind did not need doing.

I have used a Toyota dealer for several years for previous cars ( Honda, Toyota) and wonder if members think it safe to take my MB there. They claim to service all makes and I "almost" trust them!

The alternative is to take it to a Mercedes specialist that I know nothing of.

The car has covered less than 12000 since new and has done say 2500 miles since the last service.

I am in N. Wales, a few miles from Chester. What would members do?

Thanks,

T.

 

[Deesidecars7]

MB motors, merc indy, used to be at Sealand in Deeside, moved to bumpers lane Chester, very good, used them through our business for years

 

[A250 Bennyboy]

I've only had good experience with my local MB dealers, I'm on a service plan that takes the pain of stumping up a lump of money every year, and if anything needed doing they'd phone me first before they proceed with any work.
Plus when I come to sell the car it'll be more desirable with a MB service stamp.
If I was you I'd check out your local MB dealers or get a decent independent. Quite a few adds on this site that might fit your needs
Cheers
Ben

 

[190]

I think you have a dilemma deciding on service for a car that does such low annual miles. It depends how long you intend to keep it. If you were selling it very soon then keeping up the MB service history may be worthwhile but it's an awful lot of money to spend every 2500 miles. If you are keeping it for a few years I'd go with an specialist indie. If you are keeping it long term then I don't think it matters where it's serviced

One way to look at it is how much will the car be worth when you come to sell it and how much extra would you have spent on a full MB service history. In my case I ran a 190e for 21 years The extra cost of MB service would have been at least 5 times more than the car was eventually worth when I came to sell so it would have made no financial sense. After all it's not as if many here consider MB service to be superior to a good indie, in fact quite the opposite.

 

[markjay]

It's all about finding a good garage that you trust... whether it is an approved dealer or indie is secondary consideration.

As for resale value, it is very common for cars to be serviced at an MB dealer for the first 3 years, then by an indie/specialist from year 4 onwards, so this itself won't have an adverse effect on value.

 

[Tafia]

Thanks folks, good advice as ever.

The car had only done around 9000 miles when I bought it in September 2015.

It had a full history but is now telling me the B3 service is due and I was quoted ( if I recall correctly) over £700 by the local MB main dealer. I suspect with such low miles the brake fluid for example won't need changing. BTW that seems to be a modern idea as I have had Volvos and a diesel Honda with lots of miles on the clock and never had the brake fluid changed.

I guess another A service will do the job.

Seems I will have a look at the local independents.

 

[markjay]

Brake fluid change interval on MB cars is based on time (every 2 years), not mileage, so it is due even if the mileage is low.

 

[herby thr cls]

I've only had good experience with my local MB dealers, I'm on a service plan that takes the pain of stumping up a lump of money every year, and if anything needed doing they'd phone me first before they proceed with any work.
Plus when I come to sell the car it'll be more desirable with a MB service stamp.
If I was you I'd check out your local MB dealers or get a decent independent. Quite a few adds on this site that might fit your needs
Cheers
Ben

Agree with all what Ben has said and don't forget you will also keep your Mercedes breakdown cover.

I have just had my CLS serviced today at main dealer, I was quoted £841, phoned 2 local indies first one quoted £720, second one £685 which surprised me really, as I thought there would be a bigger saving from the Indies, so I did what Ben has done and took out their service plan, it has worked out £928 paid monthly and that gives me 2 services, so in theory next years service is only costing me £87, Happy Days

 

[Tafia]

Thanks to all for your replies.

Best wishes,

T